AWARD: FINALISTS OF ZVONO AWARD 2026 ANNOUNCED
The finalists for the Zvono Award for the year 2026 are Ljiljana Arsić, Isidora Branković, Mustafa Mlinarević, and Emina Veladžić-Jušić. This decision was made by a three-member jury that met at the KRAK Center on Saturday, 16 May 2026. The jury consisted of art historian Uroš Čvoro (Sydney, Banja Luka), urban planner Lauren Hood (Detroit), and artist Aida Šehović (New York, Sarajevo). The jury selected Emina Veladžić-Jušić as the main award winner for 2026.
During the evaluation process, the jury expressed surprise at the high quality of the submitted applications, and particularly those of the finalists. A session of several hours, accompanied by analysis and dialogue about various artistic practices that are generating new artistic sensibilities among the younger generation of artists, was marked by hope that the Zvono Award represents a unique opportunity for winners to broaden their artistic practices through engagement with new communities. Regarding the selection of Emina Veladžić-Jušić, the jury recognized in her work a sophistication of ideas and methodological maturity which, through certain provocativeness, respond to the immediate context as well as to broader global questions. At the same time, her courage and originality in drawing the attention of the public and art audiences while examining contemporary conditions in her own environment were highlighted. The jury also expressed admiration for the way the artist approaches systems, materialization, and the senses – marked by temperature, sound, and synthetic and natural materials.
Through its approach to organization and delivery, the Zvono Award seeks to position itself as a space for the affirmation of contemporary art. Through a transparent and rigorous evaluation process, the intention is to maintain high standards of artistic discourse and through challenging ideas and thoughtful production, to enable meaningful dialogue on current topics in our community. Through the selection of the jury, the choice of finalists, and the inventive approach of younger curators, the intention is to justify the title and the fact that this is an award dedicated to young artists and artists up to 33 years of age. At the same time, the aim is to maintain the vitality and freshness of perspective on social reality and the challenges of our time.
Support for The Zvono Award, as part of the broader network known as the Young Visual Artists Award (YVAA), was provided by Residency Unlimited and the Trust for Mutual Understanding from New York.